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Wednesday, 2 November 2011

Camp resident: Ten reasons why I chose to camp at St Paul's Cathedral

1.The
Free market capitalism experiment has failed. It requires endless unsustainable
growth and relies on deregulation of the markets as well as the continual
weakening of employees rights here and abroad. The extraordinary ramping up of
global economic activity is without historical precedent. It appears to be
totally at odds with our scientific knowledge of the finite resource base and
the fragile ecology on which we depend for survival.

2.Huge
corporations have too much power, too much money and have more access to our
politicians than we do. Remember lobbygate? It hasn't gone away.

3.The
thirst for profits has led to the degradation of an estimated 60% of the world’s ecosystems.

4.Our
dependency on fossil fuels must end – we must implement a road map to eradicate
fuel poverty and this must include the move away from fossil fuels use.

5.End
privatisation of all public utilities. If not renationalised, then run
not-for-profit.

6.Bring
UK cycling levels up to that of the Dutch where 27% of all trips are made by
bicycle.

7.No
NHS privatisation

8.Reverse
the culture of consumerism. Consumerism hurts our environment using vital
resources on unnecessary production. Change the way we advertise, introduce
quiet areas on public transport. Regulate advertising properly with
Scandinavian type policy.

9. Only allow one media publication to be owned by an individual or group. Murdoch says it all.

10.These politicians in power and in
shadow government are the same ones who voted for the illegal war on Iraq, the
same ones who abused the expenses system, who presided over lobbygate, who
serve corporations over the public and intentionally produce policy that widens
the gap between rich and poor. 23 out of 28 members of the cabinet are millionaires. They are in the financial elite. Why are they allowed to remain in power? What is
wrong with a system that fails to remove cheats and frauds from the seat of
public office? Why are people like Lansley allowed to abuse their expenses and be placed in charge of our NHS which he then pushes law through to privatise it? Our democracy is weak, we are faced with increasing surveillance in which protest is kettled, monitored and largely ignored. This must change.